Understanding Ford casting numbers is easy once you understand the numbering structure. Ford used a wide variety of structures for their part numbers and date codes. The majority of casting part numbers have 9 digits within 3 different groups and the first digit is the start of the part number.

The Ford casting number always starts with the 'Decade' letter'(see table 1.3). Ford started using this structure in the late 50's with the first letter being 'B' . In the 60's the letter changed to 'C' and 'D' for the 70's and so on. The Decade digit is always followed by the 'Year' number. The combination of Decade and Year indicate the actual model year the part was originally designed for .

C5AE-9425-B

Identifies this part as 60's decade, 5th year. Making it 1965 application

The Decade letter is the start of the Ford casting number, even if additional numbers or groups of numbers are found nearby you should always look for the the Decade letter for then start of the casting number.

There are typically 3 groups of numbers and each group is often separated by either a dash or a space in between the groups. In some cases there is no space between between the 2nd and 3rd group of numbers.

Take a look at this sample casting number for a 1969 428 CJ carburetor

Another version of the casting number contains only 2 groups of numbers for which it identifies the Application Information and the Engineering Version. There are even some castings containing only 1 group of numbers which identifies only the Application Number.

Engineering version alphanumeric (up to 3 digits but mostly single alpha digit)

M = 13th version of C9AF-9510 carburetor

Model Design ( the 3rd digit from the first group)

The Model Design digit is the 3rd digit in the part number. It identifies the intended model for the part.It consists of mostly a letter but with some car models a number replaces the letter.

Most parts are designed for more then one model application. They are generic Model Design digits like A O or S. These generic digits make the part universal and/or specific to a body type.

Take this example, C8OE-9510-D is a 1968 Carburetor designed for 390 motor with Fairlane body type. But this was not designed exclusively for the Fairlane application alone as the carburetor was also used on Mustangs 390 and Cougars 390.

Some parts are designed for specific application in mind. Often when a specific Model Design digit like Z or W (Mustang or Cougar) is found on a part, the part is most often specific to the intended designed model.

Take this example, D0ZF-9510-AA is a 1970 428 CJ carburetor designed for the Model Mustang and used only on Mustangs.

Ford usually designed parts for a specific body line. This is true, but it is important to understand that most parts are not limited to a specific body line. Most parts where also used on several models and body lines.

Take this example, C8AE-9425-F is a 1968 390 intake design for the Galaxie but the intake was also used with on all models and car lines with the 390 engine. Basic Design Digit "A" is a generic code.

The Model Design digit is often the most misunderstood piece of information found on Ford casting numbers.

The Model Design digit is only a partial reference to the intended application but by no means does this imply a specific application. It should only be used as a basic guide to understanding the intended application.

Take this example,
C5AE-9425-M
is a 1965 289 intake designed for Galaxie with 289 motor but the part may have been used on every model car line with the 289 motor. The Mustang 289 also uses this intake; which means that you will never see a Z as the 3rd digit on this intake when ford used it on Mustangs.

Table 2.1 Model Basic design. The 3rd digit.

XXAX-XXXX-X

Generic Full size ford

XXCX-XXXX-X

Remanufactured part 1966-1975

XXDX-XXXX-X

Falcon/Maverick

XXEX-XXXX-X

Truck

XXFX-XXXX-X

Foreign or Trans Am racing

XXGX-XXXX-X

Comet 1961-1967 or Montego 1968-1976

XXHX-XXXX-X

Holman Moody Hiperf parts or 1966-1982 Heavy truck

XXJX-XXXX-X

Industrial

XXLX-XXXX-X

Lincoln

XXMX-XXXX-X

Mercury

XXOX-XXXX-X

Fairlane(all) and Torino 1967-1976

XXSX-XXXX-X

Thunderbird

XXTX-XXXX-X

Truck

XXUX-XXXX-X

Econoline Club Wagon Van

XXVX-XXXX-X

Lincoln

XXWX-XXXX-X

Cougar

XXYX-XXXX-X

Meteor 62-72 (Canada), Bobcat 75-81

XXZX-XXXX-X

Mustang

XX6X-XXXX-X

Pantera

Only important or relevant applications show in this table

Engineering Component ( the 4th digit from the first group)

Engineering Component is the 4th digit in the part number and always an alpha letter. It identifies which Ford engineering group designed the part and to which major component group the part belongs to.

Take this example, C8AE-8505-H contains letter E which identify this part as an engine component or belonging to the engine division. In fact this is the part number for a 1968 390-428 Water pump.

Not all Engineering Component letters are meant for a major component group. X is used for special parts and Y or Z are often service parts.

Take this example,
C6OZ-6675-A
contains letter Z which identifies this part as a Ford service part. In fact this part is an oil pan meant for Big Block engines and was ordered from Ford with this part number. The original Ford casting number for the oil pan is
C6OE-6675-A
which indicates this oil pan is an engine part and belonging to the engine division.

The 4th digit Engineering Component identifier represents the major component group to which the part belongs to and/or the Ford division that originally designed the part.

Table 2.2 Engineering Component. The 4th digit.

XXXA-XXXX-X

Truck division

XXXC-XXXX-X

Body and electrical

XXXE-XXXX-X

Engine group

XXXF-XXXX-X

General parts, Electrical and Electronic

XXXH-XXXX-X

Climate Control

XXXJ-XXXX-X

Autolite / Ford parts and Service division

XXXM-XXXX-X

Performance vehicle and Holman Moody

XXXP-XXXX-X

Automatic Transmission

XXXR-XXXX-X

Manual Transmission

XXXU-XXXX-X

Axle and Driveshaft

XXXX-XXXX-X

Special vehicle parts (muscle parts) or Emissions or Economy

XXXY-XXXX-X

Linclon and Mercury service parts

XXXZ-XXXX-X

Ford service parts / Aftermarket parts

Only important or relevant applications show in this table

Basic Part Number ( Second group of numbers )

Basic Part Number group is a mostly a 4 digit numeric group of numbers.

Take this example, C6AE-9425-K contains part number 9425 which identifies this part as an intake manifold.

The Basic Part Number group may also be 5 or 6 digits in length and may also contain letters. Letters are only found with part numbers longer then 4 digits. Letters should be removed to reveal the true Part Number group.

Take this example,
D0ZF-10A336-A
contains part number 10A336. Removing the letter A reveals this part belonging to Alternator group 10000-10499. In fact this part is the alternator mounting bracket on a 1970 BOSS 302.